public income will not be sufficient to pay the interest of its public debt. The unfortunate people whom his Eminence saw hunted through the streets, with tin kettles tied to them, represent, rather fantastically I admit, the landed proprietors of the island, who have been ruined by excessive taxation, and treated in a shameful manner by the misguided people of the cities, who have been led to believe, by their blatant politicians, that those persons were guilty of robbing them with their selfishness and rapacity.'
'Is that all?' asked the King.
'Sire, I could tell your Majesty a great deal more, but time will not permit me.'
'Shall we ever see that enchanted island of which thou hast spoken?'
'I cannot tell, sire; I am not a Jeremiah or a Daniel, and it is not an enchanted island. It is a sober, matter-of-fact island, as large as Ireland, and a thousand times more peaceable. The whole world has made similar advances and improvements.'
'Did we understand thee to say that there are real coaches there which travel on iron roads at great speed without horses?'
'Yes, my liege; I certainly did say so, and it is true.'
'What animals draw them then—asses?'
'Neither horses nor asses, nor animals of any kind.'
'What makes them go then? Have they sails, like ships?'
'No, sire; they are drawn by engines, which carry water and fire, and when the water boils, the vapour or steam rushes through pipes, and makes the wheels go round.'
'Doctor Julius, come forward! Is this man mad?' roared the King in a terrible voice.
'I think not, sire,' answered the Doctor, 'but he may not be quite well; he received very dreadful injuries in the
